The 82-year-old victim was followed to her home in Portchester from Fareham town centre by the man.

He tricked her into allowing him inside the house by saying his cat was in the back garden, but while she was distracted he took her purse from her handbag, left through the front door and fled down Dore Avenue shortly after 2.45pm.

He is described as white, with short grey or fair hair, aged about 40 to 50, of medium build, 5ft 10in and with a small tattoo with a line underneath the side of his neck.

He spoke with a feminine voice, with a local accent, and was wearing a cream scarf, a cream sweatshirt, light trousers, a navy or black baseball cap and was carrying a red and white carrier bag.

The victim’s purse, which had £200 in it, is described as navy or black, about 6in in length, with a cut flowers design.